Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Chapter 4: How to Seize the Initiative (5)
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After the duel ended, Martin returned to his office.
Naturally, Vincent and Sien followed him.
Unlike Vincent, who was grinning after the fun fight, Sien's expression was poor.
As soon as she entered the office, she asked,
"Are you feeling a bit better, Martin?"
"Thanks to the potion from Sir Vincent, I'm much better. Don't worry, Sien."
"That's a relief, then...... Please don't push yourself. It feels like my lifespan shortens every time because of you."
"It's all Sir Vincent's fault. I may have left the main and branch families, but I'm still a martial artist and your junior. You didn't watch over me properly. Of course, you didn't go all out, but even the power you showed was incredibly threatening to me."
Martin slyly shifted the blame to Vincent.
"That's absurd, Young Master. Thanks to me, you could reveal that you've honed your skills and Spatial Sword, and you're saying that? Honestly, wasn't I the one played in your game?"
"That's true, but it doesn't change the fact that I overexerted myself because of you, does it?"
"I gave you the highest-grade potion, and this is how you repay me!"
"Sigh, both of you, stop it."
Clench.
Sien spoke in a chilling tone while clenching her right fist.
Seeing that, Martin and Vincent shut their mouths.
She had inherited Vincent's physical abilities completely.
Even if others couldn't, she could damage Vincent with a simple punch.
No one wanted to be the victim of that fist.
"Ahem. Anyway, Young Master, what are your plans going forward? Pulling me in alone won't stop the three families from holding the大会."
"Ah, about that, I have something prepared. The moment it's detonated, they won't care about any大会."
"Oh ho. You're quite prepared. Care to share what it is?"
"There was an assassination attempt in the dungeon. The target was me."
"......Is that true?"
The expression vanished from Vincent's face.
Crash!
At the same time, the teacups shattered.
They couldn't withstand the aura emanating from Vincent.
"Father, calm down."
"Urgh. Sorry about that."
At Sien's words, Vincent apologized and withdrew his aura.
But his eyes remained cold.
"I want to hear the details of what happened, Young Master."
"I was attacked by assassins on the first floor of the dungeon. Their skills were so poor that I repelled them easily."
"Even so, a direct descendant being attacked in Adalbert territory is a major issue. Why didn't you report it?"
"I judged it pointless."
"Why?"
"There's insufficient solid evidence. Announcing it now would just give them time to destroy evidence."
"Hmm...... But letting it slide isn't right, is it?"
"I have no intention of letting it slide. I'll crush them thoroughly once I have solid evidence."
"From what you're saying, it seems you've got a lead."
"I've learned the organization's name and their base location. They're called the Blood Sword Unit, and they're holed up on Cassio Mountain near Barehain City."
"......Impressive work. Extracting info from tight-lipped assassins."
"It's a simple task. And I plan to handle this before the大会."
"Before the大会, meaning you suspect the elders or other branch family heads."
"That's my current thinking."
"What if they're not the culprits? Then you can't stop the大会."
"The possibility is slim. And even if so, it doesn't matter."
"Ho, do you have a backup plan?"
"Yes. Just conduct an audit on the Rustal family's finances."
Gape, gape.
Both Vincent and Sien opened and closed their mouths repeatedly.
The shocking revelations came one after another, hard to accept easily.
"An audit? What do you mean?"
"The Rustal family has been siphoning off a lot of magic stones and dungeon byproducts. Isn't that grounds enough for an audit?"
Vincent looked at Martin with a dumbfounded expression.
But Martin still didn't wipe the smile from his face.
Watching the situation, Sien spoke up in genuine shock.
"Siphoning off magic stones and dungeon byproducts......"
"It's the crime every nation, including the Alteria Empire, takes most seriously. It's tax evasion and national asset leakage at the same time."
Among all dungeon byproducts, magic stones were the most crucial.
These chunks from monsters practically supported the entire continent's industry today.
They were also the source of wealth for nations controlling dungeon entrances.
Of course, there were vast other resources from dungeons too.
Thus, after raids, entrants had to be inspected before Adventure Guild staff and imperial officials to declare what they'd obtained.
To prevent tax evasion and core resource leaks.
"Space-type unique abilities are so convenient. Subspaces make it easy to divert byproducts elsewhere, and interfering with others' subspaces is extremely hard, so detection risk is low."
"Ho. Why on earth would the Rustal family do such a thing...... One misstep, and they lose everything."
"I don't find it strange. Among the five branches, the Rustal family has the shortest history and weakest forces, right?"
"You're saying they built slush funds to close the gap?"
"That's how I see it. And for quite some time."
"I see...... But to conduct an audit, you need clear evidence first."
"I know where the Rustal family's slush fund warehouse is. Isn't that enough?"
Vincent could only let out a hollow laugh at Martin's words, flowing like clear spring water.
He couldn't fathom just how thoroughly he'd prepared.
"Good grief. For the Young Master to know something even I don't...... The previous family head must have helped. He cared a lot for his only son."
"I'm grateful to Father."
Martin answered naturally.
He couldn't say he'd figured it out himself here.
"By the way, Young Master, you're truly fearless. Even if the Rustal family is the weakest, they're still one of the five branches. Far stronger than most noble houses. And behind them is the Royce Marquis family. Touch them rashly, and you could be in danger."
"As you know, Sir Vincent, the capital is embroiled in faction wars over successor selection. The Royce Marquis house is busy supporting the Second Prince. Do they have time to worry about the empire's north? They don't."
Vincent couldn't help but admire.
He hadn't expected such a broad perspective.
"To think you'd see that far."
"This is basic."
"Leaving that aside, one problem remains."
"You mean Vincent's support alone isn't enough for an audit?"
"......You've truly worked hard to become family head. Knowing such details. As you say, Young Master, I alone isn't enough. We need one more branch head or elder to agree. But why would they side with you?"
"No need to worry. I can 'convince' one of the elders."
"Convince......"
Vincent smirked.
Thanks to Sien, he'd investigated Martin extensively.
He was curious why his precious daughter wanted to befriend the known incompetent Martin.
So he'd thought he knew Martin better than anyone, but today he realized.
It was all his delusion.
The main family's sole direct descendant had just been biding his time.
Until sharp claws grew on him.
Martin was already a beast.
"Isn't it too dangerous? Messing with an elder already. Borrowing Mateus's power might be better."
"As I said earlier, I have no intention of mingling with neutral forces who've stayed neutral so far. Unless they bow first."
"Hmm. Won't Carline be disappointed? Not trusting the Gustin family despite his presence."
"Isn't it the duty of a ruler to strictly separate public and private?"
Vincent could only chuckle hollowly.
Not just preparations, but his thinking was fully that of a family head.
"You leave me speechless. Alright, I just need to support the Rustal audit? I could even accompany you to the Rustal family."
"No need. It's my first move as Young Master; I can't rely on your help, Sir Vincent."
"You're concentrating all attention on yourself, thoroughly."
"Something like that. Please arrange a meeting with the knight order captains."
Under the Adalbert family—precisely, directly under the family head—were two knight orders.
The White Dragon Knights and the Golden Dragon Knights.
The White Dragon Knights originated from those who fought with the founding family head, boasting a thousand-year history. Representing the Adalbert family wasn't an overstatement.
Their current captain was Lucas Hoffman, a 7th Circle powerhouse.
The Golden Dragon Knights were formed when the Adalbert family was assigned to defend the Alteria Empire's north. Slightly shorter than the White Dragon Knights, they too had been with the family for nearly 800 years.
Philip Alrofs served as their captain, also a 7th Circle powerhouse.
Securing those two alone would command over half of the Adalbert main family's military might.
"Oh dear. Were you aiming that far by pulling me in?"
"You were my top priority, Sir Vincent. But with little time until the大会, I need to secure those who can become my people quickly."
"You're seizing control of the family's military power."
"With those two, no one can stop me from taking over the family."
"True enough. Do as you wish, Young Master."
"Thank you."
A feral smile crept onto Martin's lips.
It evoked an image of a beast eyeing prey.
'This is the true face of the Adalbert direct line.'
Sien felt it once more.
That Martin had completely changed.
Thus, she steeled her resolve.
She needed to change too.
Only then could she advance alongside him.
"Sir Vincent, you should rest now. Sien and I have much to catch up on after so long."
"Very well."
As Vincent rose, Sien followed behind.
Left alone, Martin turned his chair to gaze out the window.
Some smiled, but more wandered about in confusion.
"You should've picked your sides better."
For traitors, there was only one thing he could offer: death.
"But first, I need to shake things up."
It was true that the Bittenfeld, Rustal, and Pezeks families had joined hands.
The Gustin family wasn't different, just pretending otherwise now.
But their ultimate goal was for their own family to replace the Adalbert family. With only one seat, they couldn't stick together till the end.
The elders were the same.
Their aim was to establish their own families.
They were the type to use any means for that.
"I need to sever that fragile bond for sure."
And it started with the Rustal family.
Unlike the others, they had a fatal weakness.
They'd exposed it blatantly; no reason to leave it be. He'd cut their lifeline and use them as sacrifice for his ascent.
Swoosh.
Martin rose, envisioning the pleasure ahead.
First, to turn Elder Oriana into his puppet.